Dispatches

A trek in the reserve

A. J. T. JohnsinghR. Raghunath
A male tiger resting near the Moyar river. Photo: Vijayakumar, WWF-India
The lush green Thengumarahada village on the bank of the Moyar river in the Nilgiris Eastern Slopes range, as seen from the top of the northern ridge. Photo: A.J.T. Johnsingh
The man-eating leopard of the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, camera trap photograph. Photo: Tamil Nadu forest Department and WWF-India
The man-eating leopard of the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, camera trap photograph. Photo: Asasad sadsd
A view of the Germalum range, which looks much like the Western Ghats. Photo: A.J.T. JOHNSINGH
An ideal chowsingha habitat in the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve. Photo: A.J.T. Johnsingh
Zizyphus mauritiana, the Indian plum tree. This one, at least 300 years old, with a girth measuring 363 centimetres, is pehaps the largest in south India. Photo: A.J.T. Johnsingh
A male tiger in Dhimbam. Photo: Tamil Nadu Forest Department and WWF-India
Female tiger in the Moyar valley. Photo: Tamil Nadu Forest Department and WWF-India
Female tiger, Moyar valley. Photo: Tamil Nadu Forest Department and WWF-India
Female tiger, Moyar valley. According to I. Anwarruddin, Field Director, Sathyamangalam reserve, there are around 50 tigers in the reserve. Photo: Tamil Nadu Forest Department and WWF-India
The Moyar valley, where it is most likely that once the cheetah hunted the blackbuck. Photo: A.J.T. Johnsingh
Cassia spectabilis, a problem species all through the moist areas of the lower Nilgiris. Photo: A.J.T. Johnsingh
Prickly pear (Opuntia dillenii) and mesquite (Prosopis juliflora), the invasive plant species which reduce the quality of the blackbuck and chital habitat. Photo: A.J.T. Johnsingh
The brown male blackbuck in the Moyar valley. Photo: A.J.T. Johnsingh
Male chowsingha. Note the absence of the anterior pair of horns. The south Indian species is known to have only the well-developed posterior horns. Photo: A.J.T. Johnsingh
The reintroduction of the chinkara will enhance the faunal diversity in the Sathyamangalam landscape. Photo: A.J.T. Johnsingh
Chital doe and a sub-adult, Moyar valley. Photo: A.J.T. Johnsingh
The Mysore Zoo accommodates 60 nilgai. To reintroduce the animal in the Satyamangalam Tiger Reserve, disease-free nilgai should be brought from the zoo. Photo: A.J.T. Johnsingh
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